Paper clip



H. P. BOTTS PAPER CLIP Dec. 7, 1948.

Filed D90. 16, 1944 INVENTOR Hue/4 P Ber-7.5 v 'BY ATTORN Patented Dec. 7, 1948 UN HE D SJT RATEN T" OF F I CE.

PAPER CLIP Hugh P.'Bott's,- New York, N. Y., assignor of one-- half to Lawrence'G. Botts, New York, N. Y.

ApplicationDecember-16, 1944, Serial No. 568,477

3' Claims. I

This invention relates to whatis commonly referred to as paper clips. More-particularly, the invention deals with devices of this kind-shaped to form-mounting orsupporting:loopswhereby a number of sheetsof paper may be supported by the clip from a supporting member or whereby a plurality of groups of sheets or the clips of each group may'beioi-ned to m'aintain the plurality of groups in associated relationshipvto each other, particularly when dealing with a common subject; Still:more'particularly, the in-- vention deals with clip devices of the kind. de-.- scribed which are adapted for assemblage onwamounting or binder-as individualclip's or" as united clips. The novel featuresiofthe invention will behest understood from the foliwingdescription when taken together with the accompanyingdrawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and in whic'hthe: separate parts are designated'by' suitable reference characters in each'of-the views; and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of'one: paper clip made according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing; a number of clips arranged upon an elongatedunit ing member or loop.

Fig. 3 is a view similar-to Fig. 2 showing the clips arranged upon a springring.

4 is an extended: perspective view showing a plurality of clips united through the medium of connecting links.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective View showing. the supporting or mounting end portion :of a paper clip made according to myiinventionand showing a modification.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a number'of clips coupled together showing another form of-construction.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Figrl showingen elongated open type -ofmounting loop."

Fig. 8 is a view illustrating a useor mounting of clips as shown in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 shows another adaptation and use of clips substantially similar to-those shown-in Figs; 7 and 8; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective'view showing the mannor of uniting. clips substantially as taught: in Figs. 6 and 9 of the drawing.

In paper clips; particularly of the type and kind formed from bent wire, comprising two elon gated loops, and extensively-used for uniting sev oral sheets of paper, such devices have been utilized solely for. this-purpose and have been constructed --to adapt them-for thiause: Itiis 2 the purpose of my invention to provide paper clips of the kind under consideration with mounting loop ends whereby the clip may beutilized to suspend or otherwise support clamped sheets, or to'mount a plurality of groups of sheets on a common mounting or binder. Still further tosecure a predetermined number of clips together so as to provide a unit assemblage by which several groups of papers may 'be maintained in united or coupled relationship to each other.

Very often, it is essential to maintain a large number of papers all dealing with a common subject in coupled relationshipto each other. With the present type of clip constructions, it has been undesirable and impossible to retain a large number of sheets in proper assembled relationship, wh'er'eas'the clips worlr verysatisfactorily" on a limited number off-sheets; By my improved construction and by providing in any-'givenunit the required number of clips: for maintaining an assemblage of a'large number of docurhentsor' sheets, these documents or sheets can be success fully and. securely detained" in position; by" 'sub dividing the sheets or documents into small groups, each unitedby a single clip" Ofthi'llllit'. Itwill also be apparent that assemblagesoizthe clipsmay be so madethat gripped sheets 'or'docu' ments may be moved one relatively to the other without disturbing the relationship of the other sheets in'sub'stantially. the manner QfLtu'rning'the pages of a book, and yetwithoutbeing restricted to binding, as would prevailin a book, inthat each groupof sheets maybe freely moved with respectto other groups of sheets without-displace ing the sheets in each group from the supporting.

clip.

In someinstances, a number'ofindividually clipped groups of. papersmay be simply united or bound together bya string, wireor other-.unit=. ing: medium which. .willlbe passed throughathesupporting or. binding loop of all of the clips. employed.= In. still other.instances and -to insure united relationship: between the clips, .the clips. maybe joined one with the-other through -.th

3 in mind that the so called shorter loop l! is of less diameter and fits within or upon the larger diameter loop l6, again as in devices of the kind under consideration.

In conventional devices, one side Id of the loop l6 has been integrally united with one side l9 of the smaller loop I! in a looped end portion. This end portion 26 of my improved clip has been preferably extended or made longer than the conventional loop and is shaped, as shown in Fig. 1, to form a substantially closed small mounting ring or loop 2|, the closure being accomplished by contraction of the wire, as seen at 22, and this contraction may be considered a neck portion. In this contraction is also formed a twist which disposes the loop or ring 2| substantially at right angles to the loops l6 and H. In other words, the loops i6 and I! are flat and parallel one with respect to the other for the purpose for receiving the sheets to be engaged thereby, whereas the loop 2| would have its opening 23 at right angles to the openings of the loops or with the loop 2% perpendicular to the sheet. With clips of this type and kind, the papers or sheets to be engaged by the clip will extend up to the neck portion or to the point indicated by the dot and dash line 24 of Fig. 1, thus leaving the loop 2| disposed beyond the edge of the sheet. It will thus be seen that any type of mounting can then be passed through the opening 23 of the loop 2| to suspend or hang the clip with the sheets thereon from any suitable support or to unite several clips, with independent sheets supported in each clip, one with the other.

In Fig. 2 of the drawing is shown one method of uniting a number clips I5. For example, on an elongated mounting ring holder or member 25. The member 25 is in the form of an open elongated wire pin having a shank 26 adapted to be passed through the loops 2| of the clips l when in open position, and after the clips have been assembled, the shank 26 is moved into engagement with a hook end 21, forming the closed ring like member 25.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing, I have shown three of the clips having their looped ends 2| mounted upon a ring like binder or member 28, somewhat similar to a key ring, the member 28 having overlapping spring end portions 29 and 30, over either of which the loops 2| may be threaded for uniting the clips on the member 28.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing a number of the devices or clips l5 have their looped ends 2| joined by coupling links 3|, each link having curled end portions 32 which extend around the wall portions of the loops 2|, one end of each link being united with a loop 2|. In coupling several clips together, adjacent links will have adjacent ends united with a loop 2| of a single clip, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing. Clips of the general type and kind shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive and in fact, of the type and kind later described in connection with Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive may have their looped ends united one with the other in directly coupling the clips together with out the use of a separate coupling, mounting or binding member, such as the members 25 and 28, and the links or members 3|.

In Fig. 6 of the drawing, for illustrative purposes, I have shown four of the clips I5 having their mounting loops 2| united with each other. The loop of the clip 33 extends through the loop of the adjacent clip 34 and the loop of the clip 35 also extends through the loop of the clip 34 and through the loop of the clip 36. In this connection, it will be understood that the loops 2| will be made sufliciently large in diameter to permit the assemblage described. It must be borne in mind, that the particular shape or contour of the loops 2| may be made to suit intended uses, and while for most purposes it would be practical and desirable to keep these loops within the size of the larger loop I6, of the clip itself, this is not essential. Furthermore, the extent of closure of the loops may be varied as well as the extent of opening of the loops. Still further, the particular angular arrangement of the loops may be modified to suit diflerent conditions, and in some instances, these loops may be disposed substantially in the same plane as the loops of the clip. In other words, in Fig. 5 of the drawing is shown a modification wherein the mounting or suspending loop 31 of a clip 38 is arranged substantially in the same plane as the loops of the clip, or in other words, the opening 39 will be parallel to sheets supported in the clip rather than at right angles thereto as with the loops 2 I. The clip 38 is otherwise of the same construction as the clip l5, and for this reason, the remainder of the clip is not shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing. It will also appear that the crossing of the wire, as at 40, in forming the loop 31 forms a substantially closed opening 39 in the loop.

Before proceeding to describe the structure in Figs. '7, 8 and 9, attention is directed to Fig. 10, which is shown to illustrate the manner of assembling clips which can be united, as shown in Fig. 6, and also as illustrated in Fig. 9. However, in Fig. 10, the clips |5 are shown. These clips are united by threading the loops 2| over the shanks of the large and small loops H5 and I! in order to first dispose the loops 2| within the smaller loops I1. Thereafter, these loops may be brought together in the assembled relationship shown in Fig. 6 by springing the loop 2| of one clip across the neck portion 22 of the adjacent clip, particularly when these neck portions are contracted to form substantially closed openings as at 23.

In Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive is shown at 4| another form of clip which diifers from the clip l5 simply in providing what may be termed open mounting loops 42 rather than closed mounting loops, as at 2| and 31. The loops 42 are twisted, however, at what might be termed neck portions 43, so as to dispose the loops 42 at right angles to the loops of the clip, the same as the loops 2|. This type of more or less open loop is desirable for use on mounting or binder rods, such as the rod 44, shown in Fig. 8 and the rod 45, shown in Fig. 9. This rod might constitute the mounting of a binder or in itself comprise a binder to which a number of sheets or groups of sheets may be attached.

In Fig. 8 of the drawing the clips 4| are mounted individually on the rod 44 so that they may be freely moved circumferentially as well as longitudinally on this rod for positioning the clips in any desired position thereon, with sheets or other devices coupled therewith maintained in any position with respect to the rod.

In Fig. 9 of the drawing is shown another use of the clips 4| which difiers from the use illustrated in Fig. 8, simply in uniting adjacent devices 4| one with the other by intercoupling the loops 42 in the same manner as taught in Figs. 6 and 10 of the drawing and by making the loops 42 sufliciently large to receive the rod 45 which will be free to pass through the inter-coupled loops. With the structure shown in Fig. 9 of the drawing, the separate clip devices will have a circumferential movement one with respect to the other within limits of adjacent devices or clips, but will be retained in a unit relationship against relative displacement along the supporting rod. This type of construction will keep the sheets or other articles or members against relative movement one with respect to the other along the supporting rod.

It will be under tood that devices of the kind under consideration may be sold and distributed as individual devices and adapted for various uses or assemblages, some of which have been illustrated in the accompanying drawing. On the other hand, factory assembled units may be manufactured and sold to adapt the units to specific, uses. For example, in the teachings shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, units may be made up of two or mo e clips on a common mounting 25, the mountirg being made of a size to suit the number of clips thereon. The same will also be true of the structure shown in Fig. 3, where the ring may be made large enough to take the number of clips desired in the unit and this will also be true of the structure shown in Figs. 4 and 6 of the drawing as well as the unit assemblages that would be adapted for the use indicated in Fig. 9.

In satisfying requirements in various ofiice or business establishments, the respective units may be all the same in a single package, which may comprise many of the units equivalent, for example, to the sale of a hundred clips to the package, or this same package may have a varied combination of units to adapt the same to different required uses.

In producing clips of the kind under consideration, the mounting or supporting end portions thereof which comprises the loops 2|, 3? and 42, also form finger pieces facilitating the attachment of papers or other articles to the clips. These loops will not add to the amount of material employed in the resulting clip device to any great degree, and the added costs essential to the formation of these loops is comparatively slight, thus the resulting added cost of the device to the consumer is minimized.

In some instances, the clips of units such as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 for example, as well as in other figures, may have distinct colors so as to distinguish the sheets or articles coupled therewith one from the other. This would be extremely simple if the clip devices were formed from plastic materials where different colors were used in the plastics. Where metal clips are used, the same result can be accomplished by plating operations performed on the material employed.

Having fully described my invention, what If claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A clip of the class described, comprising a pair of sheet engaging loops normally disposed one within the other in substantially the same plane, said loops being integrally joined at one end thereof by a third loop disposed in a plane substantially at right angles to and beyond both surfaces of the plane of said first named loops and yieldably supporting said first named loops in said plane, and said last named loop forming a separate article engaging means on said clip.

2. A clip of the class described, comprising a pair of sheet engaging loops normally disposed one within the other in substantially the same plane, said loops being integrall joined at one end thereof by a third loop disposed in a plane substantially at right angles to and beyond both surfaces of the plane of said first named loops and yieldably supporting said first named loops in said plane, and said last named loop joining said first named loops in a restricted neck portion and formin a separate article engaging means on said clip.

3. A clip device of the class described comprising a plurality of clips, each clip comprising a pair of elongated loops normally disposed one within the other in substantially the same plane, said loops being integrally joined at one end thereof by a third loop disposed in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of said first named loops and yieldably supporting said first named loops in said plane, and said third loops of adjacent clips being interengaged in maintaining the clips in assemblage.

HUGH P. BOTTS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Des.55,214 Staufenbeil May 18, 1920 316,586 Verbeck Apr. 28, 1885 621,738 Baldwin Mar. 21, 1899 731,598 McGill June 23, 1903 908,076 Cooner Dec. 29, 1908 1,146,799 Jefirey July 20, 1915 1,374,007 Gedney Apr. 5, 1921 1,395,803 DuBois et al Nov. 1, 1921 1,446,362 Vogel Feb. 20, 1923 2,098,834 Peterson Nov. 9, 1937 2,116,238 Harvey May 3, 1938 2,123,974 Smith July 19, 1938 

